As a F/O instructing cadets on the Percival Prentice in 1954. It was a basic trainer
that replaced the Tigermoth. L to R F/C Balasubramaniam, self, F/C
Chaudry, F/C Bali, F/C Bhasin, and F/C Bhangoo. I am glad that all my pupils passed out
and got their wings, even those who were assigned to me as their last chance to become
pilots.

3. Harvards in Flight

A Harvard formation in 1954

4. With Wadhwan and Fernandez

P/O O N Wadhawan, self, and P/O Fernandes on the day of receiving their wings at
Jodhpur in 1955. They were my students and had dropped in the Officers Mess to say
goodbye. Wadhawan later commanded an Su-7 fighter squadron and did well in his career.

5. Picnic at Jodhpur

1954 This photo was taken in Jodhpur, which was a god-forsaken place for a single
pilot. Bachelor Instructors posted there invariably went out on a picnic on Sunday for a
change of pace. I am at the top, to the left is F/O Teddy DSouza, then
F/O Ripu Sahni, and the one showing his big bum to our photographer friend is F/O
Mote Chandra.

6. "Kay" Singh

Kay Singh at Palam officers mess. We had gone there for a
flypast. He was a coursemate and one of my best friends. He was a very nice person, a
thorough gentleman from Dehra Dun. He was killed in a Harvard crash at Begumpet when he
hit a lake after an instrument flying sortie.

7. Trip to Kasauli

F/Os MM Singh, BN Mishra, Baldy Mehta, and Bakhle enjoying some beer
on a motorcycle trip to or from Kasauli hill station.

8. Air Force Day Bombay 1957.

Standing from left Self, Flt Lt Lalwani, Flt Lt Teddy
DSouza, Flt Lt Dutt, Flt Lt Saighal (Missing in Action in the China operation. He
was a helicopter pilot. While flying on a casualty evacuation mission to a forward picket,
he failed to return. His body was never recovered. We presumed he had been captured by the
Chinese), Sq Ldr Zachariah, Flt Lt Baldy Mehta (Baldy died when his Gnat
flamed out on approach to Palam Airfield in the late 1950s). Seated from
left: Mrs. Zachariah, Sq. Ldr Kuriyan, Mrs. Saighal, Mrs. Kuriyan.

9. Air Force Day party 1961

Air Force Day party at Firpos in Calcutta in 1961. Standing from left: Self, Flt Lt
Behl, Flt Lt Jit Dhawan, and Flt Lt Ghosh. Jit later went on to command an HF24 fighter
squadron. Jits brother was Satish Dhawan, the head of Indias space program and
pioneer space scientist.